Matchbook Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 5m 8.6s

Mason Jar¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 115

8/11

Broke his duck over hurdles at the sixth attempt (second run for this yard) when an easy odds-on winner of a Uttoxeter maiden (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; faces a stiffer test under a penalty.

Form: 5237-21

House Island¹⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: P R Webber

2/1

Driven out to floor the much more fancied Nobby and Imperial Alcazar in a 2m Listed bumper at Newbury (good to soft) in March; out of his depth in a Grade 1 NHF race at Punchestown subsequently; steps up in trip for hurdles debut.

Form: 221-9

Mister Murchan¹⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: R Rowe

20/1

Winning Irish pointer (Aghabullogue); 40-1 when a remote second to The Butcher Said on hurdles debut in a 2m4½f Huntingdon maiden (good); an unlikely candidate.

Form: 5/3P15-2

Shah An Shah¹⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon

14/1

Shirocco gelding (well-related); weakened close home when no match for the 8L winner Montego Grey in a Market Rasen bumper (2m½f, good) in April; switches to hurdling at a reasonably realistic level.

Form: 3-

Top Man¹⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon

14/1

Milan gelding, winner of 3m maiden point-to-point at Fairyhouse (good to yielding) in April; has joined Chris Gordon for £24,000 since; hurdles debut.

Form: P6-15

Non-Runners

Zyon³⁵¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Forecasts

Mason Jar (8/11), Zyon (7/4), House Island (2/1), Top Man (14/1), Shah An Shah (14/1), Mister Murchan (20/1)

The recent Uttoxeter maiden winner Mason Jar faces a stiffer task under a penalty, while Zyon has clearly taken time to develop for Paul Nicholls. Therefore, the more appealing option is probably the Paul Webber-trained HOUSE ISLAND who was a surprise 40-1 winner of a Listed bumper at Newbury in March. Nevertheless that opinion could be swayed should a barrage of market support arrive for the Nicholls-trained hurdling debutant.